That the World May Know

Over two thousand years ago, angels proclaimed ‘Good News of Great Joy’ to the Shepherds.  Gary and I are privileged to continue their mission and proclaim the good news of Jesus wherever He sends us.   

Earlier this month we were in Kenya, East Africa, teaching Pastors and Leaders who don't have access to formal training in a Bible School.   What a joy to encourage them, train them, and see them activated in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

Gary ministered two Sundays at our host church. It was powerful to worship and fellowship with our Kenyan Brothers and Sisters.

Students and Teachers.  The Joy of the Lord Fills our Hearts.

Since we were already in Kenya - we took a personal vacation and went on safari. 

It was amazing to see God's creation up close and personal. Trying to imagine how Adam felt when he saw the animals come to him to be named! 

All we can say is ‘Wow God’!   

Your continual prayers and faithful support are greatly appreciated. As we walk through open doors it's a great blessing to not worry about the financial cost.  

A new year is almost here: what does God have in store for you?  He promises that whatever it looks like, He will lead and guide you as you continue to submit yourself to Him. Our prayer is that your heart will be filled with the eternal peace that comes from the One we celebrate – the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2-6)

The Journey Continues ~ Pat

                                               

It's Because of You

• It’s because of you – that pure water flows for students in Myanmar

• It’s because of you – that tea garden workers can see to pick the correct tea leaves 

• Because of you – a Sri Lankan woman no longer needs to follow a string to walk from her bed to the bathroom

• Because of you - Christians in many nations are encouraged and strengthened in their faith

“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those that need them, they will thank God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT

Almighty God loves people. This truth continues to overwhelm us.  He demonstrates His love in so many ways.  Because of your generous giving, your prayers and loving support, Gary and I are able to share His great love to ‘the least of these’.  (Matt 25:40)

      

Access to clean water is one of the most urgent needs in developing nations.  A reverse osmosis system was purchased and installed at the Daniel Education Center in Myanmar.  Just look at the delight on this boy's face as he drinks a glass of pure water.  Pure water is healthy water.  

Eye vision clinics demonstrate Jesus’ love through practical means. Tea garden workers work hard for meagre wages based on how much they pick. Eyeglasses help them see the proper leaves to pick, and help them with housework and sewing.

After their eye exam, everyone is prayed for.  Our partners in Sri Lanka continue to hold eye clinics and reported that “There is a great testimony from the town of Buttala. An old lady’s cataract disappeared. She is a non-Christian. Today she had come to the church with her daughter and testified. Before coming to the clinic, she had not gone out of her house and had a string to hold and go to the toilet. But after praying she is healed and removed the string.  The Buttala church worker is invited to have a prayer meeting in her house. “ That's our God - touching hearts and lives and bodies with His healing power.

Our main mission is to strengthen and encourage the Body of Christ as we minister the Word of God, pray for the people and share personal words of encouragement and prophecy as the Lord leads.

They in turn share their faith and the love of Jesus with their family and neighbors.  We cannot forget that most of the nations we travel to are on the Open Doors World Watch List, which rates the top 40 countries around the world where it is the most difficult to be a Christian.  Working here requires great wisdom and discretion.

Please keep us in your prayers: November 20th - December 5th as we travel to Kenya, East Africa to teach an intensive week-long discipleship training for 50 - 60 Kenyan pastors, followed by a short safari vacation. 

Today, we pray that you will be reminded that Almighty God - loves you.  Let His love overwhelm your heart and flood it with His great joy.

What a Journey! What a God. ~ Pat

 

Follow this link to make a donation online

Another Generation

Twenty-seven young men and women sit before us, minds and hearts open to receive the Word of God.  

The years roll back as my heart returns to our Bible School days when Gary and I had this same eager expectation: that God has great plans and purposes for us, and the confidence that He would certainly reveal them soon. 

From today’s perspective, forty plus years further on our journey with God, Gary and I confidently assured these expectant students that God is absolutely faithful, never-changing and true to His promises.  However, His picture often looks considerably different than we expect, because His thoughts and plans are so much more intricate and long-reaching than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9) 

The course on ‘Activating the Gifts of Holy Spirit’, was a joy to both teach and model. The Holy Spirit was present to speak through us, filling and flowing through the students as they put into practice what they learned.

Yes, the upstairs classroom was hot and humid. Fans kept it relatively cool, except on the day the power went off, but we all persevered.  The privilege of speaking into their lives was worth it. A week later Gary was invited to be the graduation speaker.

Bible School teaching is one of my favorite things to do.  I understand why my mother loved teaching about Holy Spirit at Shiloh Training Institute. 

(Gary and I attended Shiloh in the ‘80’s. Mom & Gary both taught there for several years. Located in Hamilton, Montana, the school has since closed)

It’s been a month since we returned to India. We are settled in our flat (aka apartment) and have both had opportunity to share the Word at our home church where we were warmly welcomed back. 

There are challenges.   One cool, peaceful morning while on our balcony chatting with my sister, two utility poles on our street erupted in flames and sparks with a gunshot-like explosion. This created a power surge throughout the neighborhood.  After resetting breakers, we discovered that both our air conditioner units and our refrigerator were damaged. Parts and repair will take a week. We are grateful the temperature has cooled off some and the fans are working.

There is so much chaos and tragedy in our world, and yet there is a feeling of anticipation –  what will God do? The light of Jesus shines in the darkness – and darkness will never overcome it.  ( John 1:5) We are each called to be light, to bring hope and Jesus wherever we find ourselves. 

 Our prayer is that your passion for Jesus will burn bright, that your flame will light the way for many hurting hearts to find the hope that only He can give them.

The Journey Continues - Pat

Tea Pluckers Harvesting the Second Flush

Living the Good Life God Has Planned

 For we are God's handiwork ….. that we may do those good works which God planned beforehand for us ….  living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.  
(excerpt from Ephesians 2:10 AMPC)

What an amazing promise! Gary and I are incredibly blessed to be living the ‘good life which God made ready for us’.  It’s a life that supersedes our greatest expectations, dreams and plans as declared in Ephesians 3:20-21.

Sharing the truth of God’s Word is a passion for both of us.    We truly believe that Jesus would have come for one soul, and we don’t hesitate to journey to a small gathering of hungry hearts. 

It’s a joy to be part of the Body of Christ wherever we go:  at a remote village cottage meeting, a gathering of church leaders, discipleship training course, Sunday morning services or a midweek Bible study.

Discipleship Training Course

The overriding focus of every teaching we share is the same message Jesus stated in John 10:10. He said that His reason for leaving heaven and coming to earth, was so that those who choose to believe in Him and accept His saving grace would have abundant life.  

Not just life – which is a wonderful thing – but abundant life – overflowing, victorious, healthy life, joy-filled life in Christ.

Cottage (Home) Meetings

Monsoon rains are coming to our part of the country – and we’re heading back to the US for the next three months.  We plan to reconnect with as many of you as possible.  

MONTANA DATES

Come be part of our Montana meetings if you are anywhere close. 

• Thursday, June 19th – @ 6:00 p.m. CrossPoint Women, Corvallis, MT
• Sunday, June 22nd @ 10 a.m. CrossPoint Church
     Corvallis, MT with Pastors Scot and Shelly Colwell
• Sunday, June 29th - 10:30 a.m. The Place Church
    Hamilton, MT with Pastors Mike and Denise Echterling

Wherever you are along your Journey with God, our prayer is that you will be encouraged today.  Gary and I are not special, or more loved – we are just two ordinary people, who serve an extraordinary God, and learned to say ‘YES’ when he says go.

True Abundant Life is only found in Jesus, lived by the power of Holy Spirit, anchored in the love of Father God.  His plans are so incredibly better than yours or mine! 

Thank you for sharing our Journey.  Let's continue together ~ Pat

The Earth is the Lord's

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,

    the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it on the seas

    and established it on the waters.  Psalm 24:1-2 NIV

God is moving throughout the earth.  Gather25 was an unprecedented, and free, 25-hour global broadcast event telling the story and mission of the global Church, by the global Church. This was an opportunity for the 2.5 billion believers across the world to gather in prayer, worship, repentance, and commissioning, There was great rejoicing as we heard incredible stories of what God is doing around the world. 

Session 3 was broadcast from New Delhi, India.  This minute and a half intro video provides a wonderful look into India with a concise explanation how the Christian experience varies greatly throughout this great nation.  As you watch this video, may your heart be stirred, encouraged and motivated to pray. You'll want to watch more - click for the entire broadcast from India. 

It is a great joy for Gary and I to be living overseas.  Wow – just typing that makes me tear up.    It’s been our lifelong desire to spend more time overseas than in America. Now that it is our reality, we are continually amazed and grateful. 

Since we are foreigners, which can draw unwanted attention, our main role is to encourage and strengthen the local Body of Christ so that they can share the love of Jesus with their family, friends and neighbors.  

Sharing the Word of God with hungry hearts, seeing them respond and begin to apply God’s truth to their lives is rewarding.

We are so grateful that you are part of our Journey with God, which is only possible because of your faithful prayers, love and support.   

This Amazing Journey Continues ~ Pat and Gary

Happy to be back in Sri Lanka

Being based in Asia makes it easier for us to travel to other nearby countries. Flying to Colombo, Sri Lanka took us 2 short flights - a total of 8 hours with travel and layovers, and we are in the same time zone.  No jet lag! Yeah!!  

Compare this to the last time we flew from Las Vegas to Sri Lanka – 4 flights and almost 40 hours travel time (including airport layovers), plus we crossed the international date line. The lack of sleep and 12+ hour time difference results in jetlag that takes 3-4 days to fully recover.

Outreaches are planned for the next three weekends.  Plans are to leave by 5 a.m. Saturday morning, drive 3 – 4 hours to the town where we will hold an eye clinic starting around 9 a.m.   Sunday morning there will be a revival church service.  Late Sunday we’ll drive back to Moratuwa where we are staying with our ministry partners.  It’s a joy to be  ministering together after almost 5 years.   

During the week we’ll spend time at Adara Sevana (Love Shelter), a school for the differently abled and share at a weekly healing meeting. 

Students who completed the week of training.

Gary's recent  ministry travels were fruitful: imparting the Word of God to hungry hearts. He received several precious notes of gratitude from the students - sharing how their lives were impacted during the training sessions. Pat was blessed with several gifts and lots of love and prayers sent back with Gary.

Sunday Services:  This past Sunday, Gary and I shared at two different places.  I had a 2 hour taxi ride one way to a small village. (Taxis here are hired autos, quite reasonably priced)

Gary shared the Word at our home church. The people came hungry to meet with God.  He is always faithful to touch hearts and change lives. 

Raising up the Next Generation

What adventure in faith are you on at the moment?   Sharing our adventures reminds us that as followers of Jesus - every day of our life is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus - wherever you find yourself - with whoever you find yourself with.

Your love and prayers are so important - our hearts are encouraged with every email or message we get from you.

The journey continues ~ Pat

 

God is Love

The Bible has a lot to say about love.  When you think about it, the entire Bible is God’s love letter to mankind.  The book of 1st John actually tells us that “God is Love “(1 John 4:8 &16).  He wasn’t content to ‘be’ love;  He was compelled by love to rescue us from sin and death.  John 3:16  in the New Living Translation explains that  “… this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Once we receive the love of Jesus, are born-again into the family of God, the only logical response to His great love – is to love others!  For Gary and I, at this time in our lives, that means living overseas.   This may sound like a great sacrifice of service to God – but really it brings us such joy and satisfaction – that we can’t imagine doing anything else.  

Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us. 1 John 4:19 TPT

Seeking Hearts

One of our greatest joys is to see people with a passionate desire for more of God.   To be part of meeting their thirst for a deeper knowledge of God’s Word; to experience His powerful presence together;  there is  no greater satisfaction in life.

Gary is teaching Session #2 of the Legacy Foundation Course for Pastors, leaders and hungry believers.   This training course is hosted by churches in various nations and includes four (4) week-long sessions. Men and women of all ages and walks of life leave their families, jobs and churches so that they can learn and experience a deeper understanding of God’s Word and what it means to walk in the fullness of Holy Spirit.

Reports after Session #1 were that lives were changed. Some students were born again, healed, freed from demonic oppression. Their minds were renewed by God's Word, which leads to transformation of their lives (Romans 12:1-2). The students are now more firmly established in their salvation, filled with the Spirit of God, and strengthened in faith.  With a firmer understanding of God’s Word, they are better equipped to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to others.

You can see their earnest desire for God on their faces.

Next week Gary will be at a different church in a nearby town teaching Session #2 to a new group of hungry students. Your prayers are invaluable.  The schedule is intense with full days of classes and multiple meetings on the weekend and some evenings.  

Wherever you are in your walk with God – our prayer is that you would pursue a closer relationship with Him. Allow God’s great unending love to fill your heart. If you haven’t received Jesus into your life and asked Him to be Lord and Savior – what are you waiting for?   Then share His love with other people – right where you are.  You don’t have to travel far to find someone who needs encouragement and love.

The journey continues ~ Pat

================================

Did you know we wrote a book?  It’s a book about God. His amazing love. His detailed plans. Sit down with us over a cup of coffee or tea (with a few ‘biscuits’ of course) as we share some of the amazing stories from our Journeys With God. This book is not chronological, it is not all inclusive or even finished, as He continues to write the story of our lives.   Our hope is that you will be encouraged on your journey. Say ‘Yes’ to God and see what He will do.

Click the book image to order from Amazon.com.